Day 1:- We will pick up you from Tallinn Airport and drive to the north-east region of Estonia called Alutaguse. After (or before) check-in at Matsu Guesthouse we will go for an optional excursion by listening to the night sounds of the wetlands and western taiga forests, before we have our evening meal at the guesthouse

Days 2 - 4:- One day will be spent amongst the ancient forests of the Western Taiga in the company of Uudo Timm - Estonia's European Flying Squirrel expert. Uudo has had a particular interest in these nocturnal mammals for the last 20 years and has been researching their ecology and protection plus monitoring their spread and distribution. These small squirrels that look like characters from a disney film get their name from hairy folds of skin between its fore and hind legs which help it to make jumps up to 35 metres from one tree to another.At dusk we will be lead by Uudo to their realm and watch for one as it leaves its nest hole and climbs up into the canopy. It is a magical experience! One morning we will make an early visit to the ancient forest to hear the bubbling display calls of lekking Black Grouse, whilst other possibilities include Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, Black & Three-toed Woodpeckers. We will also visit one of the most densely forested corners of Estonia - Alutaguse. This area is situated near the Russian border and forms a solid natural landscape right through to St.Petersburg and a corridor for European Brown Bears.Some of the day will be spent looking for signs,of these huge animals as well as tracks of the more elusive residents such as Wolf, Northern Lynx and Wild Boar! Late afternoon we will embark on what could be one of the major highlights of the week - a night in the Bear Hide. This comfortable wooden hide is well equiped with seats, dry toilet and beds for those not able to sit up all night. Bears can appear at any time during the night along with Racoon Dogs and sometimes even wolf, which certainly keeps your focus. We remain in the hide until early morning and it is fantastic to watch and hear the forest come alive as the morning sun warms the clearing.

Days 5 - 7:- Today we leave the north east and travel south to another area of wetlands and forest near Tartu. This wild region holds a good population of European Beaversand with a little patience we should get to see one of these shy creatures in their natural habitat. We will also embark on a river safaries with Remek Meel - an Estonian expert in semi-aquatic mammals. According to Remek there is nothing better than spending an evening with the European Beaver and focusing on the world of this mysterious animal which lives half of the time in water and the other half on land! One morning will be spent at the excellent Alam-Pedja marshes, a truly remote and wild region of undisturbed floodplains and winding rivers. Here we hope to find a wonderful diversity of species including Black, White-backed &, Three-toed Woodpeckers, Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Penduline Tit, and Marsh Warblers. Time will also be spent searching the grounds of the hotel, which is an old converted vodka distillary. The area surrounding the small lake can be good for Thrush Nightingale, Common Rosefinch, Savi's & Icterine Warblers. There will also be an opportunity to have some rest or even a sauna after the rigours of the early morning starts or late finishes.

Day 8:- We return to Tallinn by late morning and have a pleasant walk around the medieval city centre- now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the finest in northern Europe, with cobble streets and fine architecture which date's back to the 15th century. We should also have some free time to do a little shopping before our flight home to Britain.